Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain that affects many people. Whether you’re an athlete, someone on your feet all day, or just dealing with foot pain, can potentially stop your day-to-day life in its tracks. Treatments like stretching, special shoe inserts, cortisone injections, and pain medicine can help some people, but sometimes they aren’t enough. That’s where platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can come into play.
To continue to learn more about PRP, continue reading below.
What Is PRP?
PRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma. PRP therapy involves taking a small amount of your own blood, spinning it in a machine to separate the platelets from the rest of your blood, and then injecting these platelets into the plantar fascia.
Platelets are tiny cells found in your blood that help with healing by releasing special proteins called growth factors. These growth factors help to jumpstart healing by repairing tissue, and lowering inflammation.
How PRP for Plantar Fasciitis Can Help
Plantar fasciitis happens when the thick band of tissue on the bottom of your foot, called the plantar fascia, gets irritated or damaged at its insertion point on the heel bone. Plantar fasciitis can be brought about by many different factors like not wearing the right shoes, previous foot injury, biomechanical issues with the foot, and other causes like your health history.
PRP for plantar fasciitis can help your heeel in several ways:
1. Getting rid of chronic inflammation
PRP contains proteins that calm chronic inflammation and ease pain. The platelets from PRP help to stimulate acute inflammation which is normal and healthy, and what we want, in order to signal to the body to repair the plantar fascia. Getting rid of chronic inflammation means a better chance of healing.
2. Repairing Tissue
The growth factors in PRP help the body create new, healthy tissue. This strengthens the plantar fascia and makes it less likely to tear again.
3. Improving Blood Flow
PRP for plantar fasciitis encourages the growth of new blood vessels, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the injured area. This speeds up healing.
4. Long-lasting Relief
Unlike steroid shots, which may only reduce pain temporarily, PRP helps heal the root of the problem. This means longer-lasting results.
PRP vs. Other Treatments for Plantar Fasciitis
There are many treatments for plantar fasciitis, but some work better than others. Here’s how PRP compares with other treatments for plantar fasciitis.
Treatment | Pros | Cons |
Rest, Ice, & Stretching | Simple, no-cost | Usually has to be used with other therapies |
Shoe Inserts & Supportive Shoes | Can take stress off of plantar fascia | Wont always help with pain, often times used with other therapies |
Steroid Shots | Fast pain relief | Short-term fix may weaken tissue |
Physical Therapy | Strengthens foot muscles | Requires several weeks to work |
Surgery | Can be a permanent fix | Invasive, long recovery time |
PRP Therapy | Heals tissue reduces inflammation, and long-lasting relief | Requires multiple treatments, may not be covered by insurance |
At my practice, Direct Podiatry Arizona, I combine many of these treatments, along with PRP for plantar fasciitis to give my patients to best chance to get rid of their heel for good. In my experience, attacking plantar fasciitis from different angles, and with different approaches, leads to long-lasting results. The methods that I use along with PRP include RICE, temporary use of inserts, physical therapy, and other regenerative medicine injections including homeopathy, prolotherapy, and amniotic exosomes.
What to Expect from PRP For Plantar Fasciitis
Thinking about PRP for plantar fasciitis? Here’s what you should know before, during, and after the treatment.
Before the Procedure
Your foot doctor may ask for an ultrasound or MRI to check to confirm that your plantar fasciitis is infact that, and not another cause of heel pain. You might also be told to stop taking pain medicine like ibuprofen or other inflammatories before PRP for plantar fasciitssince it can affect healing.
After the Procedure
You might feel some swelling, pain, or discomfort, for a few days, upwards of a week. Most people can return to normal activities in a day or two, but it’s best to rest and avoid high-impact activities for a few weeks. Your doctor may suggest simple exercises to help rehabilitate your plantar fascia.
Does PRP for Plantar Fasciitis Really Word?
Studies show that PRP for plantar fasciitis can significantly lower pain and help people who haven’t had success with other treatments. A 2019 study in The American Journal of Sports Medicine found that PRP worked better than cortisone shots for long-term pain relief. Many people start to feel better within four to six weeks, with their pain getting better over several months.
Even with regenerative medicine treatments like PRP, it is so important that these inejctions are combined with a holistic podiatry protocol that addresses factors like sleep, hydration, diet, stress, and other lifestyle factors to ensure that your body is at its optimum health wise, so that these treatments have the best chance at providing pain releif.
Who Should Consider PRP for Plantar Fasciitis?
PRP therapy might be a good choice if:
You’ve had plantar fasciitis for a long time and other treatments haven’t worked.
You want a natural way to heal your foot.
You prefer to avoid surgery.
You don’t have a condition that affects blood clotting.
If you are under the age of 60
Key Takeaways
PRP for plantar fasciitis therapy is an exciting treatment that uses your body’s own healing power. It reduces pain, repairs tissue, and provides long-lasting relief without the risks of surgery. If you’ve been struggling with heel pain, PRP could be a great option to help you get back on your feet.
Schedule Your Free Consultation at Direct Podiatry Arizona
Are you dealing with plantar fasciitis and looking Phoenix podiatrist? My name is Dr. Tarr, and I am the owner of Direct Podiatry Arizona in Tempe. To view my avaliable appointment times, click here.
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